Kaboul in no hurry/Babayaro no go/Lopez a maybe?

Having finally completed his switch to Pompey from Spurs - much to his and Harry Redknapp's delight - Younes Kaboul is looking forward to getting his Pompey career started.

However as he has told The News he is not in a hurry to break up the pairing of Sol Campbell and Sylvain Distin: 'Distin and Campbell are two really good defenders, so for me it's a good challenge - but that's normal.

'You have competition in the team and that's sport, not only football, so I need to work and take my chance.

'I have seen them play. I saw many games for Portsmouth last year and they are a really strong team at the back.

'Distin and Campbell work very well for the team and make it solid. They are good defenders and work well together.

'But I am ready to be patient. I've come here to work in training. If I play it's good, but I am here for a long time. I'm 22 years old. I want to learn the game.

'In football you learn every day and I can learn from older players like Distin and Campbell.

'It's great to have a manager who is confident in me, that gives me confidence too. But I will wait for my chance.'

This is a refreshing attitude to hear, and one that hopefully the Frenchman will retain if he is unable to force his way into the side regularly this season. With so many games to play this season Campbell, Distin, Kaboul and Linvoy Primus should all have a part to play though.

Campbell and Distin will probably be the pairing that is mostly used, which with us now having cover for the aging captain resting him more often will see the best in him more often than not. Yep, he has lost his pace but if he can be kept fresher by being rested more this season we will see the best of Campbell on a more regular basis this season I am sure. Lack of cover is what caused him most problems last season.

Kaboul is very much for the future as well as the present and learning from those around him will do him - and us - the world of good...

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'Reports' while we were in African were suggesting that Celestine Babayaro would be getting a 1-year contract but Harry Redknapp has told The News that this will not be happening: 'unfortunately Babayaro is not what I need, so there won't be anything going there.'

I am not overly fussed about this to be honest as I was not overly keen on his signing anyway, as I still do not agree that the left back position is one that is so desperately in need of strengthening as so many others do...

Hermann Hreidarsson continues to defy age - he does not look like, or play like a 34-year-old at all, and whilst he will need replacing at some point, it is not just yet. Even without him we still have enough options as cover.

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And finally, Jordi Lopez however could still have a role to play with Pompey...

Harry Redknapp has told The News that he is still undecided on the Spanish midfielder, but a deal could be in the offing for him: 'I am not sure about Jordi at the moment, though. We've had him here this week and you can see he's a decent player.

'He's played for Real Madrid so you must have something about you and by all accounts he did okay at Gosport the other night.

'He's still here. We're just having at look at him so we'll wait and see what happens.

'The lad's a good player' though. We'll take it from there really.'

I do not know the fella, and just because he has been with Barcelona and Madrid it does not mean he is a world-beater as they have so many players on the books over the years - but at the same time he cannot be a slouch...

Some 'reports' say he is a defensive midfielder, others say a wide right or better still wide left option - if he can play wide left then as a free agent if the wages are right then he could be ideal, as we a desperate for cover on the left side of midfield we would be onto a winner. I am more inclined to believe that he is a holding, or right sided player though, which would still be a ok - again if his wages are right.

Thoughts on all please as ever guys...

PLAY UP POMPEY!

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